An extremely stable and sensitive end-column electrochemical detector based on heated copper microdisk electrode with direct current for CE and CE-Chip.

A heated copper microdisk electrode (HCME) was fabricated and successfully applied to capillary electrophoresis (CE) and CE-Chip as an electrochemical detector (ECD) for the detection of three carbohydrates and shikimic acid (SA) in Illicium verum Hook F., respectively. The temperature of HCME was heated by twin-wire-wound coil with direct current to reduce the magnetic interference. Coupled with CE and CE-chip, this detector exhibits both extremely stable and sensitive performance at elevated temperature compared with that at room temperature. In successive detection of three carbohydrates and shikimic acid (SA), the HCME exhibits very stable response with RSD of ca. 2% with elevated temperature without renewing the electrode, while at room temperature, RSD of ca. 20% is obtained. This is very important in practical applications that tedious works, such as polishing and re-fixing the electrode at each detection, can be therefore avoided. In addition, the sensitivity is about 2-6 time increased, and the linear range is about an order wider at elevated temperature (ca. 60 degrees C) than that at room temperature (ca. 25 degrees C).